WHY BE ENVIOUS?

PRAYER MOMENT

Wednesday 21 August 2013

WHY BE ENVIOUS?

Pause. Be still.

Reading. “Why be envious because I am generous?” (Matt 0:1-16)

Reflection. This is the story of the labourers in the vineyard. The landowner gives equal reward to the workers whatever hour of the day they came. The ones who worked longest complained. Envy is one of the oldest sins. The drama of the garden of Eden was hardly over before Cain killed Abel out of jealousy. Some people are immensely gifted and feelings of envy arise within us from our earliest days. God seems to give his gifts in such unequal ways. If we think about it what an unattractive world it would be if everyone had similar gifts. The rich variety that we know makes the world pulsate with interrelatedness as each one uses his or her gifts to build up the whole. Variety is the spice of life. “Those who are last shall be first” but the first too play their part.

Prayer. Lord, we are all so different and you have given your gifts in such a variety of ways. When thoughts of jealousy arise help me to broaden my view to see something of the rich purpose of your creation. Some of us are blades of grass, some of us are roses. Teach us to know our need for each other.. Amen